The Gypsy Duchess

by Nadine Miller

Book Overview

A dashing earl's anger towards a lovely young duchess turns into an unexpected desire. Fabulous Miller writes with a wonderful dash and verve that will hold readers spellbound.--Romantic Times.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451187288
• ISBN13: 9780451187284
• Release Date: September 1996
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Five stars the first few chapters...three stars for the rest

There is no doubt about it, Nadine Miller writes well. Better than well, actually, the first few chapters of this book were some of the most beautiful writing I have ever read - beautifully written, emotionally gripping, vibrant, unusual characters - this promised to be an exceptional story. As the book went on however, the writing turned mundane, the threads of the plot went off into predictable (to me) directions - and I was left with a less-than-satisfying feeling when I closed the last pages of this book. In a word, the potential was there, but something went wrong somewhere. Perhaps it was sloppy editing - I found at least twenty glaring typos in my edition of the book, and the probability that the syntax got any editing at all is nil. Or perhaps it was that Ms. Miller tries too hard to bring in the Gypsies - instead of being on the parameters of this story, they end up taking center stage. There was a lot of history there, and that part was really very interesting, as to how the Gypsies lived, and their culture, etc., but I did feel it took away the emphasis from the central plot of the story, and besides, when I read a Regency, I like to read a Regency, but this wasn't it. This kind of story would have worked better, in my opinion, in a full length historical, where you have the space to go into historical detail without detracting from the storyline. Moira had a brief affair with Devon's older brother, but after she jilted him to marry the elderly Duke, he went off to war and got killed. The Duke is now also dead, and the new Earl (Devon) has been named guardian of the young Duke who is seven years old, and Moira's stepson. Considering his feelings for Moira, this is an honor he vehemently refuses, until circumstances make it compelling for the situation to change. It seems to me that this author tries to work in 60's sensibilities into a Regency era novel, as the way this plot develops is to compel Moira to embrace - and publicly acknowledge - her Gypsy heritage. I personally didn't like this part, I felt that this simply would never, never have worked in actuality - in that time frame of history. I also didn't feel that Moira had valid reasons for refusing the Earl's offer of marriage for so long - as a Duchess, surely any stains from her parentage would be erased by her first marriage - as long as she would have kept quiet about it, which is why I don't like it that the author seems bent on bending circumstances to force the issue. I also would have liked to see more of her relationship with the Duke - why did he marry her? And why . . . when you read the story, there are so many unanswered questions, as to why different things happen. . . This is definitely an author that has tremendous amount of potential, but the too-many-branched plotline, along with a lack of an understanding on my part of Moira's reluctance to wed, kept this book from being the five plus stars it had the potential for being. The way this book ac

Moira must hide her Gypsy heritage to protect a child.

She married an aged duke to protect her smuggler father from the hangman's noose. After his death, she devotes herself to protecting her young stepson from the evil viscount who stands to gain a dukedom at his death. How very frustrating that the only man who can help her protect her stepson is the same man who blames her for his younger brother's heartbreak and subsequent death in the war against Napoleon.The Earl of Langley fights his attraction to this beautiful woman, believing, as he does, that she is a cruel seductress. As the two are drawn closer together by their determination to protect the young duke, however, his eyes are opened to her true character, and he decides to make her his mistress. It's only after that suggestion is firmly rejected that he becomes determined to make her his wife.But even after he has resolved the problem of the murderous viscount and discovered her Gypsy heritage, she still refuses to legally become his wife, since she knows that marrying a Gypsy will forever make him persona non grata in London society. How can he prove to her that their love is all that matters?This book had me riveted to the pages to the end, and the only reason I don't give it five stars is that I was a tiny bit disappointed in Moira's stubborn determination to refuse Devon "for his own good" long after he had proven his love for her. I mean, she was willing to hide her Gypsy heritage to protect the young duke, but when faced with the unswerving love of the earl, she insists on letting the truth be known far and wide, as a sort of a test. And even then, she makes him jump through all sorts of hoops to win her.But win her he did, and they all lived happily ever after.